How to write a two weeks’ notice letter.
Resign from your job without burning bridges. Learn how to write a professional and courteous two weeks’ notice letter.
Wondering how to write a simple two weeks’ notice letter but not sure how to get started? Throughout your career and for any number of reasons, you might have to leave a professional position. But no matter the timing nor the reason, be it a move to a new company or even a new industry, you should always try to resign gracefully. That includes giving your current employer an official two weeks’ notice. Read on to learn how to write a professional two weeks’ notice letter in seven steps.
Why should you write a two weeks’ notice letter?
Giving a formal resignation with advanced notice is a mark of professionalism and courtesy in the professional world. Sending a letter two weeks ahead shows gratitude as well as respect for your employer, who will have to take the time to replace you and train a new hire. If you give notice, your employer is more likely to give you a good recommendation in the future. If you’re working on a project, it will also be easier to maintain a good relationship with your teammates, who won’t feel that you’ve left them high and dry. It’s also possible that submitting a letter of resignation will help you remain eligible for supplemental benefits, depending on the policies within your company.
Tips for writing a resignation letter with two weeks’ notice.
Employers usually prefer all communication — even resignation letters — to be brief. Follow these steps if you’re trying to figure out how to write a two weeks’ notice letter:
- Date and recipient’s address. Start with a date and the recipient’s name and company address.
- Greeting. Greet your manager professionally by their last name.
- Resignation notice. State that you intend to resign from your position and provide the date of your last workday.
- Reason for resigning. You can explain your reason for leaving in one or two sentences — it’s optional but it can help your employer see things from your perspective. Please note that this section is not required in a typical two weeks’ notice letter.
- Expression of gratitude. Thank your employer for the opportunity to work with them. Mention a couple of positive things you’ve experienced.
- Offer of support. State that you will continue working as usual until your last day. Offer to help your employer during the coming transition period.
- Signature. Finish your letter with your signature, printed name, and contact information.
Keeping your letter brief and professional is best for this situation. If you want to thank your employer at length, that might be best to do it in person or on a call. If you have a complaint, use the appropriate channels for that complaint. In case your employer gives you a counteroffer, think ahead of time about what terms you would and wouldn’t accept to stay in your current position.
How to submit a letter of resignation the right way.
Besides the content of your letter, you might be wondering how to submit a letter of resignation. The most courteous way to submit your letter is to meet your employer and give them your printed two weeks’ notice in person. If that’s not possible, you can submit your resignation letter through email. But instead of including your letter within the email body, consider attaching it as a PDF file to make it more official.
After writing your letter with whatever text processing software you choose, quickly convert it to PDF with Adobe Acrobat online services for a clean and professional look. Then you can resign on a positive note.
Simple template for writing a two weeks’ notice letter.
[Date]
[Name of Receiver or Supervisor]
[Company or Organization Name]
Dear [Supervisor Name],
I’m writing to inform you that I will be leaving my position as [Position] at [Company]. My last day of work will be [Date].
While my experience with [Company] has been [excellent/positive], I feel I need to move on to [next opportunity, other reason for leaving].
I’ve enjoyed working as a part of the [Team Name] team. Thank you for your leadership and for the opportunities for growth. I won’t forget the experiences I’ve had at [Company].
I’m committed to performing at my best until I leave. I would be happy to assist in the transition. Please let me know how I can help.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Signature]
[Contact Information]
The dangers of leaving your job without a two weeks’ notice letter.
Resigning without a two weeks’ notice letter could have a negative effect on your career and even on your compensation. These effects depend on the terms of your employment, so before you resign, be sure to familiarize yourself with those policies.
Though resigning without notice is rarely illegal, some potential consequences of neglecting to write a two weeks’ notice letter include:
- Forfeiting pay from vacation days you didn’t take
- Receiving no recommendation in the future
- Severing valuable relationships with team members
- Alerting future employers that you aren’t dependable
What are you required to include in a two weeks’ letter notice?
In the United States, state and federal laws do not require you to submit a letter of resignation two weeks in advance. It is possible that a two weeks’ notice is part of your employment contract, which means that you’ll want to be sure to write one to avoid a breach of contract and secure all of your benefits.
In other places, such as the United Kingdom, a letter of resignation at least one week in advance is legally required depending on how long you’ve been employed with that company.
While the requirements vary, most contracts ask for these things in a two weeks’ notice letter:
- Specifications, including the current date and company name
- The date of your last day before leaving
- Name and signature
There aren’t many requirements for a two weeks’ notice letter, but you can include a few more things to make it as respectful as possible.
More resources to work with your PDFs.
PDF is one of the most widely used formats for professional communications because of its format stability and security, and it is an excellent option for sending a two weeks’ notice letter. Now that you’ve learned how to write a two weeks’ notice letter, here are guides for other letters you may need to write:
- Learn how to write an appeal letter for school.
- Learn what to include in a student absent letter for school.
- Learn how to format a business letter.
Discover everything you can do with Acrobat online services to work with PDFs and more.
